‘We need their voice – they are as much members of the community as anyone else. I am very lucky to have a supportive family and, like many dedicated MPs who are both mums and dads with young children, it’s not going to be a problem.

‘What I think is much more of a problem is the fact that so many MPs have second jobs.

‘It’s something I campaigned against when I stood last time and I will continue to do so. When people do have second jobs, they are not putting their constituents first.’

The Tory councillor has since defended his comments, saying: ‘I just think Catherine is due to give birth and that may coincide with, or be just after, the election, where she is going to have to be away from her role as an MP.

‘I just thought the voting public should be aware of that. It’s been all blown out of proportion. I’ve been made out to be sexist – that’s just ridiculous.’

People immediately commented under the councillor’s post, with one person saying: ‘And what has that got to do with politics? Are pregnant women all of a sudden incapable of doing anything?’

A spokesman for the Conservative Party in Erewash said: ‘The recent comments made by Cllr Wright on social media are neither the views of the Conservative Party, or the Conservative Party candidate for Erewash, Maggie Throup.

‘Both the Conservative Party and Parliament have taken great strides to encourage more women and mothers to stand for Parliament.

‘Indeed Ms Atkinson already benefits from the use of Parliament’s creche, which she regularly uses through her husband’s employment as Director of the Parliamentary Research Service, a pooled resource used by Labour MPs.

‘The creche was opened back in 2010 by Commons Speaker John Bercow, a Speaker drawn from the Conservative Benches, and sends a message to would-be MPs that they can represent their communities and be a parent too.’